Download - 2013 2nd Quarter Lesson 10 First Things First! Powerpoint Presentation

8/22/2019 2013 2nd Quarter Lesson 10 First Things First! Powerpoint Presentation

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Lesson 10 for June 8, 2013


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Some of the Jews came back to Jerusalem with

Zerubbabel in Spring 536 BC to rebuild the nation and

the temple thanks to the decree of Cyrus.

They rebuilt the brazen altar in that year. The next

year they laid the foundations for the temple.

The older men like Haggai remembered the glory of

Solomons Temple which was destroyed byNebuchadnezzar about 50 years before. Those elders

remembered that glory and were crying while they

laid the foundations for the new temple.

They became discouraged by the opposition from the

Samaritans so the reconstruction slowed down untilKing Smerdis finally stopped the work.

Fifteen years after laying the foundations (520 BC),

God called the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. King

Darius approved the reconstruction again and Gods

temple was finally rebuilt.


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Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: This people says, The time has

not come, the time that the Lords house should be built. (Haggai 1:2)

Why did they think that it wasnt still the time

to rebuild the temple?

According the prophecy of Jeremiah (2 Chronicles

36:20), the captivity of Israel would last for 70

years.

That prophecy was fulfilled the first year of Cyrus

(2 Chronicles 36:22) with the return of Zerubbabel,

just 70 years after the first Jews were taken captive

to Babylon.

Nevertheless, after dealing withmany difficulties when rebuilding

the temple, they mistakenly deduced

that those 70 years were not fulfilled

yet because the destruction of the

previous temple took place in lessthan 70 years before then.

First message: August 29, 520 BC


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Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your

paneled houses, and this temple to lie inruins? (Haggai 1:4)

The people had silenced their conscience with excuses.

They worked in building their own houses and totally

forgot about the House of God.

Now God used the prophet Haggai to make themconsider the consequences of their acts.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways!You looked for much, but indeed it came to little;and when you brought it home, I blew it away.Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of Myhouse that is in ruins, while every one of you runsto his own house (Haggai 1:7, 9)

First message: August 29, 520 BC

If the people of God wants to be successful, the first

things must be first: Gods things first, then ours.


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They got everything

ready to begin with

the work in less than

one month. In that

moment, they

received a second

message from God.

Then Haggai, the Lords messenger, spoke the Lords message tothe people, saying, I am with you, says the Lord. (Haggai 1:13)

Zerubbabel (governor),Joshua (high priest) and all

the people listened to

Haggai and obeyed the

divine order.

Second message:

September 21, 520 BC


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It was after Haggais second message that the people

felt that the Lord was in earnest with them. They darednot disregard the repeated warning that their prosperity

and the blessing of God were dependent upon their

entire obedience to the instructions given them. As soon

as they decided that they would do the words of the

Lord, His messages of reproof changed to words of

encouragement. O how merciful a God we have! He

says, I am with you. The Lord God omnipotent

reigneth. He assured the people that if they were

obedient, they would place themselves in a positionwhere He could bless them for His own names glory. If

Gods people will only rely upon Him, and believe in

Him, He will bless them.

E.G.W. (SDA Bible Commentary, on Haggai 1:13)


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Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former

glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, isthis not in your eyes as nothing? (Haggai 2:3)

Some people were discouraged because of

the cry of the elders when they laid the

fundaments of the temple some years

before (Ezra 3:12-13)

God used Haggai to promise to the people

that the second temple would be much

more glorious than the Solomons one,

despite being half the size and without its

gold, silver and jewelry ornament.

That temple would be blessed and

glorified by the physical presence of God

Himself in the person of Jesus: and they

shall come to the Desire of All Nations,

and I will fill this temple with glory

(Haggai 2:7)

Third message: October 17, 520 BC


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Consider now from this day forward, from the

twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from theday that the foundation of the Lords templewas laidconsider it: Is the seed still in thebarn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, thepomegranate, and the olive tree have notyielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you(Haggai 2:18-19)

Sin contaminates everything in contact

with it and quickly expands (Haggai 2:13-

14), but holiness must be carefully andpersonally cultivated (Haggai 2:11-12)

When the people of God comes together

to seek holiness like the people of Judah

did in Haggais time, they are blessed.

Fourth message: December 18, 520 BC
http://www.google.es/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=0h0nkD7vA8zJrM&tbnid=zb4Hc5tXePYobM:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http://loveringreviews.com/ring/signet-ring/&ei=1jaiUZbbDIn8Oa2VgOAK&psig=AFQjCNGV8CO6C6X3dlI-Q6h0bZZjGVx_UQ&ust=1369671766242388


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The last message of Haggai is a personal message

for Zerubbabel who was responsible for the work.

When Zerubbabel heard and obeyed the divine

order, he became a signet ring (Haggai 2:23).

That means that:

He was a living example, a model of how God is.

He was an instrument on Gods hands.

His work was guaranteed and signed by God.

He must not fear anything, since he was on Gods hands.

God will not suffer one of His truehearted workers to be left alone to struggle

against great odds and be overcome. He preserves as a precious jewel everyone

whose life is hid with Christ in God. Of every such an one He says: I ... will make

thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee. Haggai 2:23

E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, pg. 67)

Fifth message:December 18, 520 BC
http://www.google.es/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=0h0nkD7vA8zJrM&tbnid=zb4Hc5tXePYobM:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http://loveringreviews.com/ring/signet-ring/&ei=1jaiUZbbDIn8Oa2VgOAK&psig=AFQjCNGV8CO6C6X3dlI-Q6h0bZZjGVx_UQ&ust=1369671766242388